Tiltable cabinet with holding mechanism



April 26, 1949. 1.. GEIS ET AL 2,468,596

TILTABLE CABINET WITH HOLDING MECHANISM Filed July 12, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Q INVENTORS X W LESTER GEIS k 7% 4 BY CHARLES METZLER m P I AT TORNEY 2 She'ets-Sheef. 2

L. GEIS El AL TILTABLE CABINET WI TH HOLDING MECHANISM 1 vl'lilllllllllIli'ililllll April 26, 1949.

Filed July 12, 1945 INVENTORS LESTER GEIS ATTORNEY CHARLES L. METZLER Patented Apr. 26, 1949 TILTAELE CABINET WITH HOLDING MECHANISM Lester Geis,

New York, N. 2., and Charles L. Metzler, Palisades Park, N. J assignors to American Optical Company, tary association of Southbridge, Mass., 2. volun- Massachusetts Application July 12, 1946, Serial No. 683,026

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cabinets and like devices and more particularly to mechanisms for use therewith for allowing and controlling tilting of such a cabinet in a vertical plane relative to a pedestal or base supporting said cabinet.

It is often desirable to arrange a relatively large cabinet, such as might be used for housing a microfilm projector-reader as shown by our prior Design Patent No. 143,067, an optical comparator or the like, upon a mobile or portable base and to provide such cabinet and base with suitable mechanism so that the cabinet may be easily and readily tilted and locked in any one of a plurality of positions convenient to a person operating or using the cabinet, or so that a projector thereon may be properly positioned for projection purposes.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a cabinet upon a suitable supporting pedestal or base in such a manner that it may be tilted relative there-to and to provide suitable mechanism for controlling the tilting and locking of said cabinet relative to the base.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for a cabinet and a base a mechanism for controlling tilting of the cabinet and with the mechanism so arranged that it is for the greater part completely enclosed within said cabinet and base.

A further important object of the invention is to provide for a device of the character described a mechanism including a foot lever which may be conveniently operated by the operator and which mechanism includes means for positively and automatically locking the tiltable cabinet in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions when the pressure on the foot lever is released.

A further object of the invention is to provide as part of such a control mechanism additional means which is associated with the tiltable cabinet and base and which may be adjusted so as to provide a proper resistance or drag to the tilting action of the cabinet when the locking means therefor is in 2. released position, such drag means preventing free or uncontrolled tilting of the cabinet but allowing the user thereof to readily tilt the cabinet as desired when the locking means is released.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becom apparent from the detailed tion which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a projectorreader comprising a portable base, a tiltable cabinet supported thereby and new and improved mechanism for controlling the tilting and locking thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a lower portion of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. i is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line i-d of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the pro jector-reader or similar device indicated by the numeral ill comprises a portable base or pedestal i2 and an enclosure or cabinet Hi which is provided with an opening I5 in the bottom portion thereof for receiving the upper end of said pedestal. The cabinet is arranged to tilt about a transverse axis It to various predetermined positions of adjustment, certain of which are indicated by dotted lines l8 and 20 (see Fig. 2). The base If. is of substantial length and width and has an upwardly extending hollow central portion 22 which is formed by a front wall 24, a rear wall 25 and side walls 2! and 23. At the upper front corners of this hollow portion 22 are provided a pair of integral bearings 23!! which are transversely aligned and concentric with the axis 56 about which the cabinet 54 tilts. Stub shafts 32 and 34 are positioned in the bearings Bil and locked in place therein by set screws 35 and free end portions 32 and 34 of said shafts extend outwardly from bearings 30 so as to form pivotal supports for apertured brackets 35 and all which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a transversely extended frame member 38 which is in turn arranged as a main supporting member for and within the cabinet structure M.

Since the Weight of the cabinet I 4 and associated structure supported by shafts 32 and 34 may be considerable, it is desirable to provide I suitable mechanism for allowing and controlling the tilting action of the cabinet relative to the base. This control mechanism is made of a rigid and sturdy construction and comprises a, friction or drag mechanism for resisting free tilting action of the cabinet as well as a locking mechanism for positively preventing tilting action thereof except when it is rendered inoperative or in'efiectivefby the user of the device. The locking mechanism isv indicated by the numeral ti? and the drag mecha nism is indicated by numeral 42. The locking mechanism comprises, in the present preferred construction, an actuating member M arranged in the form of an elongated bent lever having an operating arm at. extending outwardly through an openingdBinthe front wall 26 of the hollow portion 22 so as to provide a treadle 58 which may be depressed by the foot of the user of the device for rendering the locking mechanisrnztemporari-ly ineffective when it is desired to tilt the cabineta. The actuating lever 54 is also provided with an upwardly extending arm 52 andjthis arm has a hooked upper end portion at which is adaptedto. engage suitable holding means such as anyoneofi a series of slots 56 formed in a forwardly extending flange 58 of a bracket iii whioh has a second flange 62 thereof welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall of the cabinet. Hi.

When desired, the operatormay grip, an upper part of the cabinet M while .depressingth trcadle 50" and by exerting a forward or rearward'prcssure thereon tilt the cabinetabout axis {6. The hooked endportiont iis at such'timeedisengaged from the Slots 5% and" the cabinet may be, tiltedto any one of a. plurality of predetermined posi tions, which in the construction disclosed would.

indicated by intermediate positions and be to the extreme positions of tilt dotted lines i 8 and 2B or to positions thereof; Obviously; the number of the range of "tilting shown could be varied considerably if desiredwithout requiring any mate.- rial change in the structure. A projection PM on a lower portion of the bracket Eil'extends forwardly sufficiently to be-engaged'by the hooked endportion of'lever Mwhen disengaged from slots '56 and thus serve to limitthe extent of-forward tilting of the cabinet. An equivalent projection 66 is providedattheupper endof'bracket Wand serves to limit; in a similar manner, rearwardtilting of the cabinet.

The bent intermediate portion of lever M is secured, preferably'by welding, to a pair of angle plates 68 (see Fig. 4') which are apertured to receive a rod or pivot pin 1i! and positioned about this rod in spaced'relation at Opposite sides of the plates 68 area pair of tubular spacers 12 which may likewise be rigidly secured; as by welding, to platesl58 and thus center the lever 44- and for-m a'sturdy supporting stucture for this level; The pin or rod 13' is removably held in the posi--- tion shown by Fig. 4 by a cotter pin or thelike l3. Theends of pin 'Hl'are positioned in openings 14 in the-- side walls 21' and 2t so that the pivoting action of" lever 54 may take place in these open ings 14.

The hooked-upper end portion of lever 44 is urgedtowardlockingengagement with the slots 56"in' bracket Gibby a pair of tensioned springs IF (see Fig. 3) whichhave their lower ends engaging in holesdi'illed in the arm. it and their upperendsengaging projections 18 and '59 carried by stub shafts 32 and 34' respectively. Pro jeetion 7 9 is preferably formed integrally with stub shaft-34. In the-construction disclosed, how'- every where suflicient room must be allowed forthe insertion of stub shaft 32 after stub shaft 34 and? integral? projection 19 have been inserted; stub" shaft 32-is formeol'in a-slig-htly different way. The projeetion 'la isdetachable from'sliaft and thestub. shaft 3 2 is provided with an axially threaded openings t its inner en-d'for receiving-atlirea'ded end portion 82 of this removable proje'otionzwi- After shaft 3'2has been-positionedto extend through bearing-30 and bracket: 36"; projection 78 may be screwed into place in said threaded opening and thus serve to support the upper end of one of the springs 15. It should be observed here, however, that if desired, a single spring 76 may be employed fairly satisfactorily in which: case projectionlli' neednot be employed onstub shaft 32-;

The friction mechanism 62 mentioned previously comprises an integral upstanding projection: 84 (see-Fig; 2') which is provided upon the upper: edge of the rear wall 25 and this projection is provided with a transverse opening therethrough for receiving a pivot supporting member SLBY- hichmay be retained therein in any convenient manner. and. to which is pivotally secured by bolt 87 the lower end of a link at. This link hasits other end pivotally connected to a second link. 9E3, which is in turn pivotally connected at its opposite end to a block 92 bolted or otherwise secured to an upper portion of the flange 5,8, The" adjacent enlarged ends of links 83 anddi) are secured together by a friction clutch or drag mechanism 9 3- which, asshown best by Fig. 5,

comprises an apertured plate Slihavingaprojecting finger Ell arrangedto engage between a pair of straight fingers 98; carried by link 9!! so that the-relative position-of; membersand 96'will be at all times maintained; Between plate 96 and the enlarged and of plate 93 are clamped,

by a bolt 99 and a nut H30 adjustably'positioned" thereon, theenlarged end-portion of' link'88; and

a friction disc H32; preferably formed offibrous material; so thatthis disc and; proper adjustment of nut lllfl'may be utilized to provide sufficient frictional resistance or drag between'links 88-' and '90 to prevent free tilting of'the cabinet l4 when brake lever 44 is disengaged. Proper adjustment of the linkage, however, will'allowthe operator of the device to tilt the-cabinet about axis iii" of adjustment whenever todifferent positions desired while treadle 5D is being depressed. A look washer i03- may be used as shown, if desired; for preventing loosening of nut portion- !M of bolt Sit-bin a squared opening in link 90 precludes rotation of the bolt relative thereto.

The slot -38 in the front wall 24' of the hollow column 22- is formed so that itslower edge I05 serves as a positive stop for limiting the downward movement of the lever 44: When this lever is in engagement with stop I05, its hooked end 54will be disengaged from slots 56 but positioned so as to be in the path of movement of the projections 6'4 and fifi and thus serve'to limit the tilting movement of the cabinet M in either direction.

Having described our invention in-detail What we claim is as follows:

1. The combination of a base, a cabinet, pivot means supporting said cabinet for tilting movement relative to said base, and mechanism for controlling the tilting movement of said cabinet,

said mec han-ism being located principally within.

2. The combination ofabase; a cabinet, pivot H!!! and'a-squared means supporting said cabinet for tilting movement relative to said base, and mechanism for controlling the tilting movement of said cabinet, said mechanism being located principally within said base and cabinet and comprising a fixed member having holding means secured relative to said cabinet, a pivoted member movably carried on said base and comprising a operable exposed actuating arm .vestraining arm engageable with the holding means on said fixed member, and spring fo normally urging said restraining arm into engagement with said holding means for releasably locking said cabinet in any one of a plurality of predeter lied positions of adjustment.

3. The combination of a base, a cabinet, pivot means supporting said cabinet for til-ti -g move--- ment relative to said base, mechanism for controlling the tilting movement of said cab net, said mechanism being located principally a bin said base and cabinet and comprising a fixed member having holding m 5 secured relative to said cabinet, a pivoted ber movably cal-- ried on said base and comprising a readily open able exposed actuating arm and a restrainin arm engageable with the holding means on said fixed member, spring means for normally urging said restraining arm into engagement with said holding means for releasably locking cabinet in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment. means connected to the interior of said cabinet and said base and adjustable to provide a predetermined amount of resistance or drag to tilting movement of said cabinet relative to said base.

4. The combination of a hollow base, a cabinet carried thereby, said hollow base extending into an opening in the bottom of said cabinet, pivot means enclosed within said cabinet and base and serving to support cabmet for tilting movement relative to said base. mechanism the greater portion of w ch enclosed by said cabinet and base for co 0" v the tilting movement of said cabinet, said r ch ism comprising a fixed member on sat. readily operable member movablv carried on said base and comprising an actuat ng arm exten g outwardly oi said base and a restraining arm engageable with said fixed member, and spring means normally urging said restraining arm portion into engage ment with said fixed member for releasably lock.- ing said cabinet n any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment.

5. The combination f a hollow a cabinet carried thereby, s hollow base extending into an opening in the bottom of cabinet pivot means enclosed within ca .net and base and serving to support said cabinet for tiltmovement relative to said mecha is the greater portion which enclosed by cabinet and base for co troll -g the tilting movement of said cabinet, said nice, a'ni m compri \g a fixed on said cabinet, a readily operable .ber movably carried on base and compnmng an ac ating arm extending outwardly of base and a restraining engageable with said fixed member, and spring means normally said re, ing portion into engage ..t with said fixed member for releasably locking cab t in any of a plurality of predete ions of adj11stmeans operatively connected to said cabinet and base and adjustable to provide a predetermined amount of resistance or dra to urg tive to said cabinet, a readily operable latch movably carried base and selectively engageable with any one of the slots in said fixed member, an operator controllable arm for actuating said latch extending outwardly of said base normally urging said latch into en agement with said slots for releasably loosing said cabinet in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment, said friction means being connected to said cabinet and said base and adjustable to provide a desired amount of frictional resistance to tilting movement of said cabinet relative to said base.

7. The combination of a base, a cabinet, pivot means supporting said cabinet for tilting movement relative to said base, and mechanism for controlling the tilting movement of said cabinet, mechanism comprising locking means and adjustable friction means, said locking means com rising fixed member on said cabinet, a readhy operable member movably carried on said base and engageable with said fixed member for preventing relative movement between said cabinet and base, and spring means normally urging said member into engagement with said fixed member for releasably locking said cabinet in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment, friction means comprising a pair of interconnected links connected respectively to said cabinet and base and an adjustable connection between said links arranged to provide an adjustable frictional resistance of amount suitable to prevent free tilting movement of said cabinet relative to said base.

8. In a device of the character described the combination of a hollow base, a cabinet carried thereby, said hollow base extending into an opening in the bottom of said cabinet, pivot means enclosed within said cabinet and base and serving to support said cabinet for tilting movement relative to said base, and mechanism partially enclosed within said cabinet and base for controlling the tilting movement of said cabinet, said mechanism comprising locking means and adiustable friction means, said locking means including a fixed member on said cabinet, a readily operable member movably carried on said base having an actuating arm extending outwardly through an opening in said base for convenien operation by the foot of the user of the device and a restraining arm engageable with said fixed member, and spring means normally urging said restraini g arm into engagement with said fixed member for releasably locking said cabinet in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of adjustment, said friction means being connected to said cabinet and base and adjustable to provide a frictional resistance suitable to prevent free tilting movement of said cabinet relative to said base when said restraining arm is released from said fixed member.

9. In a device of the character described the combination of a hollow base, a cabinet carried thereby, said hollow base extending into an openmg in the bottom of: said cabinet, pivot means enclosed within said cabinet and base and SSW-- ingyto support said cabinet fortilting movement relative: to said base, and mechanism for the greater part enclosed Within said cabinet and base for controlling the tilting movement of said cabinet, said mechanism comprising locking v means and adjustable friction means, said locking means: including a fixed member on said cabinet, a readily operable. member movably carried-0n said baseand having an actuating arm extending outwardly through an opening in said base for: convenient operation by the foot of the user of the device and a restraining arm engageable with said fixed member, and spring meansnormally urging said restraining arm into engagement with said fixed member for releasably locking said cabinet in any one of a plurality of. predetermined positions ofadjustment, said frictionflmeans comprising a pair of interconnected links connected respectively to said cabinet and base and an adjustableconnectiom between said links arranged to providean ad,

justable frictional resistance or drag suitablatd prevent free tilting movementof said cabinet-rel ative to said base when said restraining-armisreleased from locking engagement With said fixed;

member.

LESTER GEIS; CHARLES L. MEIZLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record inth'ea file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

